Almost €90,000 is to be spent building bat roosts in Galway, prompting criticism of the expense. We look at why they are getting such lavish homes

There are nine bat species in Ireland and they are all protected under Irish
law and by Annex IV of the EU’s habitats directive. The most important
species is the lesser horseshoe bat, of which there are about 12,500, with
particularly strong colonies in south Galway, north Clare and Kerry. These
bats and their roosts are given additional protection under Annex II of the
habitats directive. The biggest implications are for road-builders. If a bat
roost gets in the way of a road, there are a number of measures the builders
can take, such as providing a “green bridge” or underpass. Bats use linear
features, such as hedgerows and walls, to help them navigate. If these
aren’t available, in open landscapes they will fly close to roads.